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Librariana II: Trustees

 Collection

Scope and Contents

The papers of the Board of Trustees consist of by-laws, minutes (and other materials relating to its monthly meetings), correspondence, information on individual trustees, and other reports and documents.

The official board minutes were bound from 1888 to 1975 (59 volumes); these bound volumes are in the 3rd floor safe. Bound copies of the official minutes from 1979 to 1988 are also located in the 3rd floor safe. Unbound minutes, along with agendas, resolutions, etc…, from 1943 to 1993 have been transferred from the director’s office to the 3rd floor safe.

Correspondence with members of the Board of Trustees is located in the 3rd floor safe from 1917 to 1949. Correspondence with members of the Board of Trustees is also located in the director’s office from the 1970s to the 2000s. An inventory of this correspondence is not included in this finding aid.

Additional series include various copies of the by-laws (probably incomplete), individual biographies of individual trustees from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s (mostly), including the papers of Samuel L. Hamilton, notes relating to committee work from the very earliest years, and other miscellaneous information.

Dates

  • 1846 - 2019

Biographical / Historical

As established by law, the Board of Trustees of the Newark Public Library is composed of seven members: the Mayor (or his representative), the Superintendent of Schools (or his representative), and five citizens (at least four of whom are required to be residents of Newark). These citizen trustees are all appointed by the Mayor for five-year terms. The Trustees hold the library in trust for the public and oversee all aspects of its administration. They acquire books, pamphlets, periodicals, documents, papers, and other information sources through purchase or donation; they manage the upkeep of the library and its branches; they hire librarians and other personnel; they set policies, established rules, and formulate regulations; they make regular reports to the Mayor and the citizens of Newark on the activities of the library.

Extent

14 Linear Feet ( 39 boxes)

67 Volumes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The papers of the Board of Trustees consist of by–laws, minutes (and other materials relating to its monthly meetings), correspondence, information on individual trustees, and other reports and documents.

Repository Details

Part of the Charles F. Cummings New Jersey Information Center, Newark Public Library Repository

Contact:
3rd Floor
Newark Public Library
5 Washington St.
Newark NJ 07102 United States
973-733-7775